Workforce Preparation and Employment Outcomes

Average Number of Quarters Worked: Arkansas

Average number of quarters per year with wages reported, by degree or certification type and by years since earning highest credential

What Is Measured?

The average number of quarters with wages reported in 2012, among individuals employed in Arkansas in non-U.S. government positions

Who Is Counted?

Arkansas residents who attained their highest level of education between 2002 and 2011 in a certificate of proficiency, a technical certificate, or an associate degree program.

What It Tells Us

Individuals with technical certificates and associates worked more (4 quarters) than those with certificates of proficiency (3 quarters). The average number of quarters worked increases for each credential type as more years elapse after the credential was earned.

Why It's Important

Labor force participation is consistently associated with higher levels of education, even among those who do not complete a degree or certificate. While a number of states report employment outcomes for students who have enrolled in a community college or completed a community college degree or certificate, the way in which these outcomes are reported and the populations on which outcome measures are based vary widely, making it difficult to compare these measures across states.

About the Data

Four quarters is equivalent to one fiscal year.

“Arkansas residents” were those for whom the original state of residence when entering an Arkansas higher education institution was Arkansas.

Using the month and year of graduation from each credential identified, Department of Workforce Services unemployment insurance data were matched with education data from the Arkansas Department of Higher Education's Student Information System Database to obtain wage information in 2012. Since the self-employed, employees of the federal government, and graduates working outside of Arkansas do not have Arkansas unemployment insurance, they are not included in the analysis.

Data come from the Arkansas Education to Employment Report 2013, put together by the Arkansas Research Center in partnership with Hanover Research.